Journalists, photographers, artists and digital creators are invited to submit their best African travel and tourism work from 2026 before 15 January 2027.
Africa Travel Week (ATW) has officially opened entries for the 2027 ATW Media Awards, celebrating the journalists, photographers, artists and content creators whose work brings Africa’s travel and tourism stories to life.
Entries are open across five categories until Friday, 15 January 2027, and the winners will be announced at WTM Africa, taking place in the Host City of Cape Town from 7–9 April 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
“Africa’s travel story is richer, more diverse and more compelling than ever, and the people telling it deserve to be celebrated,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director at RX Africa.
“Whether you’re a seasoned journalist, a photographer with a frame you can’t stop thinking about, or a young creator just finding your voice, we want to see your work. The ATW Media Awards are designed to honour work that inspires travel, champions responsible tourism and shows the world the authentic spirit of African destinations.”
The five official categories for the 2027 ATW Media Awards are:
- Sustainability Feature Award: Journalism that digs beneath the surface of sustainability in African tourism, from community-led tourism and conservation to the changemakers building a fairer, greener future for travel.
- Visual Tourism Award: Photographers and artists whose work captures Africa’s landscapes, wildlife, people and culture with a distinctive eye. Entrants may submit one photo, one artwork or one cohesive series of related images. New this year, exposure blending (HDR) and focus stacking are permitted within clear authenticity guidelines.
- Tourism News Award: Sharp, rigorous reporting on the developments, trends and challenges shaping African tourism.
- Destination Feature Award: Immersive features that bring an African destination to life through its landscapes, heritage and people.
- Young Talent Award: Rising writers, photographers and digital creators under 25 who are already changing the conversation about travel on the continent.
Entry details
The awards are free to enter, with only one submission accepted per category. All work must have appeared in print or online between 1 January and 31 December 2026. Entries will be judged by a panel of respected travel editors, journalists and photographers, to be announced soon.
Deadline: Friday, 15 January 2027
Full category criteria, technical requirements and entry details are available at: https://atwconnect.com/the-2027-atw-media-awards/
Know someone who should enter? ATW encourages editors, publishers, tourism boards and industry partners to share this call for entries with writers, photographers, freelancers, students and creators in their networks.
“The next great story about Africa may be sitting with someone who just needs to be told to enter. Sometimes all it takes is a nudge,” De Jager concluded.
